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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Fraud email example:

From: "Mr Aja Atakaolu" <aja_atakaolu1@walla.com> (may be fake)
Reply-To: aja_atakaolu@walla.com
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 19:30:52 +0100
Subject: Re Good-News From Mr Aja & Mother

ATTN:
DEAR SIR/MADAM.
HOW ARE YOU OVER THERE IN YOUR COUNTRY I HOPE THINGS ARE MOVING NORMALY IF SO GLORY BE TO GOD. PLEASE SIR. I WILL LIKE TO DISCRIBE MY SELFE A LITLE
BEAT FOR YOU,MY NAME IS MR AJA ATAKAOLU I AM A YOUNG SIERRA/LEONE LIVING UNDER UNHCR IN DAKAR SENEGAL. AS A REFUGEE.
MY LATE.FATHER WAS THE CHIEF MINISTER OF THE MINERAL RESOUCES IN KONO DISTREAT CHIEF.OMA ATAKAOLU, BUT HE WAS KILLED BY THE REBELS OF R.U.F AND MANY OF OUR PROPARTIES / BIULDINGS WERE DISTROYED BY THEM.
WHEN HE WAS ALIFE HE EXCAPED WITH ME AND MY MOTHER TO DAKAR SENEGAL.FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND DEPOSITED HIS MONEY IN MY NAME IN A FINANCE FIRM BANK FOR SECURITY PURPOSE.THE AMOUNT IS EIGHT MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THAUSAND $8.500.000 (DOLLARS).
I GOT YOUR EMAIL ON INVESTMENT RESARCHE.I DESIDED TO WRITE YOU THIS FEW WORDS HOPING THAT YOU WILL BE THE RIGTH PERSON TO ASSIST ME ON ANY PROFITEBLE INVESTMENT I WANT TO DO IN YOUR COUNTRY.
MY MOTHER CHOESE YOUR COUNTRY BECAUSE IS A POLITICAL AND DEMOCRATICAL SUTABLE PLEASE IF YOU ARE INTRESTED TO HELP US. YOU WILL STAND AS THE BENIFICIARY OF THE
MONEY.AND ALSO HELP US TO TRANSFER THE MONEY IN ANY OF YOUR ACCOUNT PENDING MY ARRIVAL TO MEET WITH YOU.ALL THE DUCOMENTS THAT HE USE AND DEPOSITED THIS MONEY IS HERE WITH ME.
IF YOU CAN HELP US TO TRANSFER THIS MONEY I WILL SEND YOU THE SECURITY AND FINANCE CONTACT INFORMATION' TO ENABLE YOU THEM ON MY BEHALF AS MY FORGIEGN PARTHINER.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU VIA: ALTERNATIVE E-MAIL':aja_atakaolu2004@walla.com .
THANKS AND GOD BLESS
AJA ATAKAOLU .


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